Year of EU entry: Founding member (1952) Capital city: Rome Total area: 301 263 km² Population: 60 million Currency: Member of the eurozone since 1999 (€) Schengen area: Member of the Schengen area since 1990
Italy
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Ciao
GEOGRAPHY
Italy is mainly mountainous, except for the Po plain in the north, and runs from the Alps to the central Mediterranean Sea. It includes the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Elba and about 70 other smaller ones. There are two small independent states within peninsular Italy: the Vatican City in Rome, and the Republic of San Marino.
Italy is known for its shape like a boot. The country is located along the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In the north, Italy borders to France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Italy's population is 60 million people of which the majority lives in the northern parts. Italy is the fifth most populous country in Europe.
The capital, Rome, is located on the west coast of the mainland and has 2.7 million inhabitants. Rome was the capital even during the times of the Roman Empire and the city was said to have been built upon seven hills. The city is known for its many art treasures, historical monuments and buildings. Rome is also a famous fashion city.
Italy’s nature is varied and appreciated. In the north of the country you find the Alps, with several ski resorts. The highest point is Mont Blanc. Along the coasts you can find several areas with lovely beaches where many tourists come during the summer season. In the central parts of Italy you find Tuscany, an area known for its beauty and fertile and fruitful landscape. In the south of Italy, you find interesting harbor cities, of which the most famous one is Venice. Venice is built on water and is known for its canals and its gondolas.
Most parts of Italy have a temperate climate.
POLITICS
Italy has a two-chamber parliament, consisting of the Senate (Senato della Repubblica) or upper house and the Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati). Elections take place every five years.
HISTORY
The centre of the vast Roman Empire which left a huge archaeological, cultural and literary heritage, the Italian peninsula saw the birth of medieval humanism and the Renaissance. This further helped to shape European political thought, philosophy and art via figures like Machiavelli, Dante, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo.
The southern part of Italy, Mezzogiorno, has for the most part of the last centuries been united, even if Sicily at times has been ruled separately. The central and northern parts of the country have a history that is a little more complex. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance there were many independent areas and cities, some of the most important ones were Venice and Milan. In 1921, Benito Mussolini founded the fascist party. He became prime minister in 1922 and announced himself as dictator of Italy in 1925. Italy took part in World War II and in 1945 Mussolini was arrested and executed. After the end of the war the Italian royal house was criticized for its alleged participation for the dictatorship and in 1946 Italy became a republic after the people had voted on it.
ECONOMY
The country’s main economic sectors are tourism, fashion, engineering, chemicals, motor vehicles and food. Italy's northern regions are per capita amongst the richest in Europe.
Italy was one of the countries that founded the European Union and the currency is Euro.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
The list of famous Italian artists is long and includes Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Tintoretto and Caravaggio. The country has also produced opera composers such as Verdi and Puccini and film-maker Federico Fellini.
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, was born on April 15 in 1452 near Vinci in Tuscany. He died May 2 1519 in France. He was a painter and a "jack of all trades". He worked as an architect, engineer, inventor and scientist. He was one of the most important figures of the Renaissance and is most known for painting the picture Mona Lisa (1503-1506).
Mario Barwuah Balotelli was born August 12 in 1990. He is a famous football player who plays as forward for the Italian club AC Milan and for the Italian national football team.
Eros Luciano Walter Ramazzotti Molina is a pop-singer who is well-known all around the world. He was born October 28 1963 in Rome. He has recorded songs in Italian and Spanish and has made songs together with famous artists as Tina Turner.
All over the world, Italy is known for its many fashion houses and fashion designers. One of the most famous fashion houses is Versace that was founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace. Versace makes clothes, shoes, perfumes, bags and other luxury things. The head quarters is located in Milan, Italy.
FOOD AND DRINK Italian cuisine is one of the most refined and varied in Europe, from the piquant flavours of Naples and Calabria to the pesto dishes of Liguria and the cheese and risotto dishes of the Italian Alps.
The Italian kitchen is known for its simplicity and the focus of fresh products of high quality. Ingredients and dishes vary from region to region, but overall they are labeled as Mediterranean. Many dishes and products have become internationally recognized, for example the Italian style olive oil, and different kinds of cheese, for instance Mozzarella, Parmesan and Gorgonzola. Also, sausages and meat products like Mortadella and Salami are known all over the world. In addition, cuisine based on pizza and pasta originates from Italy. An important part of the Italian food culture is the production of wine, including well-known wines as Chianti and Barolo. Coffee, espresso in particular, has also come to play an important part of the Italian cuisine.
Many Italians prefer to eat three meals a day:
- Colazione is the breakfast. For many Italians this consists if espresso, while others have bread with marmalade. It is also common to, before mid-day, visit a coffee shop or bar in order to order another espresso and something to eat, for example a cornetto or a croissant.
- Pranzo, or lunch, is the main meal of the day, and it is served between noon and half past one.
- Cena, dinner, is usually served at around eight o’clock in the evening. During the weekdays it is often a lighter meal compared with the lunch. It can consist of a portion of pasta, a bowl of soup or a pizza. However, when going out with family of friends at special or festive occasions, cena follows the same pattern as pranzo.
The traditional Italian meal seldom consists if less than 3-4 dishes. The meal is seen as a way of spending time with friends and family and compared to other cultures the Italian meal takes longer.
Year of EU entry: Founding member (1952)
Capital city: Rome
Total area: 301 263 km²
Population: 60 million
Currency: Member of the eurozone since 1999 (€)
Schengen area: Member of the Schengen area since 1990
Detailed map - click on the map
Ciao
GEOGRAPHY
Italy is mainly mountainous, except for the Po plain in the north, and runs from the Alps to the central Mediterranean Sea. It includes the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Elba and about 70 other smaller ones. There are two small independent states within peninsular Italy: the Vatican City in Rome, and the Republic of San Marino.
Italy is known for its shape like a boot. The country is located along the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In the north, Italy borders to France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Italy's population is 60 million people of which the majority lives in the northern parts. Italy is the fifth most populous country in Europe.
The capital, Rome, is located on the west coast of the mainland and has 2.7 million inhabitants. Rome was the capital even during the times of the Roman Empire and the city was said to have been built upon seven hills. The city is known for its many art treasures, historical monuments and buildings. Rome is also a famous fashion city.
Italy’s nature is varied and appreciated. In the north of the country you find the Alps, with several ski resorts. The highest point is Mont Blanc. Along the coasts you can find several areas with lovely beaches where many tourists come during the summer season. In the central parts of Italy you find Tuscany, an area known for its beauty and fertile and fruitful landscape. In the south of Italy, you find interesting harbor cities, of which the most famous one is Venice. Venice is built on water and is known for its canals and its gondolas.
Most parts of Italy have a temperate climate.
POLITICS
Italy has a two-chamber parliament, consisting of the Senate (Senato della Repubblica) or upper house and the Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati). Elections take place every five years.
HISTORY
The centre of the vast Roman Empire which left a huge archaeological, cultural and literary heritage, the Italian peninsula saw the birth of medieval humanism and the Renaissance. This further helped to shape European political thought, philosophy and art via figures like Machiavelli, Dante, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo.
The southern part of Italy, Mezzogiorno, has for the most part of the last centuries been united, even if Sicily at times has been ruled separately.
The central and northern parts of the country have a history that is a little more complex. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance there were many independent areas and cities, some of the most important ones were Venice and Milan.
In 1921, Benito Mussolini founded the fascist party. He became prime minister in 1922 and announced himself as dictator of Italy in 1925. Italy took part in World War II and in 1945 Mussolini was arrested and executed.
After the end of the war the Italian royal house was criticized for its alleged participation for the dictatorship and in 1946 Italy became a republic after the people had voted on it.
ECONOMY
The country’s main economic sectors are tourism, fashion, engineering, chemicals, motor vehicles and food. Italy's northern regions are per capita amongst the richest in Europe.
Italy was one of the countries that founded the European Union and the currency is Euro.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
The list of famous Italian artists is long and includes Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Tintoretto and Caravaggio. The country has also produced opera composers such as Verdi and Puccini and film-maker Federico Fellini.
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, was born on April 15 in 1452 near Vinci in Tuscany. He died May 2 1519 in France. He was a painter and a "jack of all trades". He worked as an architect, engineer, inventor and scientist. He was one of the most important figures of the Renaissance and is most known for painting the picture Mona Lisa (1503-1506).
Mario Barwuah Balotelli was born August 12 in 1990. He is a famous football player who plays as forward for the Italian club AC Milan and for the Italian national football team.
Eros Luciano Walter Ramazzotti Molina is a pop-singer who is well-known all around the world. He was born October 28 1963 in Rome. He has recorded songs in Italian and Spanish and has made songs together with famous artists as Tina Turner.
All over the world, Italy is known for its many fashion houses and fashion designers. One of the most famous fashion houses is Versace that was founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace. Versace makes clothes, shoes, perfumes, bags and other luxury things. The head quarters is located in Milan, Italy.
FOOD AND DRINK
Italian cuisine is one of the most refined and varied in Europe, from the piquant flavours of Naples and Calabria to the pesto dishes of Liguria and the cheese and risotto dishes of the Italian Alps.
The Italian kitchen is known for its simplicity and the focus of fresh products of high quality. Ingredients and dishes vary from region to region, but overall they are labeled as Mediterranean. Many dishes and products have become internationally recognized, for example the Italian style olive oil, and different kinds of cheese, for instance Mozzarella, Parmesan and Gorgonzola. Also, sausages and meat products like Mortadella and Salami are known all over the world. In addition, cuisine based on pizza and pasta originates from Italy. An important part of the Italian food culture is the production of wine, including well-known wines as Chianti and Barolo. Coffee, espresso in particular, has also come to play an important part of the Italian cuisine.
Many Italians prefer to eat three meals a day:
- Colazione is the breakfast. For many Italians this consists if espresso, while others have bread with marmalade. It is also common to, before mid-day, visit a coffee shop or bar in order to order another espresso and something to eat, for example a cornetto or a croissant.
- Pranzo, or lunch, is the main meal of the day, and it is served between noon and half past one.
- Cena, dinner, is usually served at around eight o’clock in the evening. During the weekdays it is often a lighter meal compared with the lunch. It can consist of a portion of pasta, a bowl of soup or a pizza. However, when going out with family of friends at special or festive occasions, cena follows the same pattern as pranzo.
The traditional Italian meal seldom consists if less than 3-4 dishes. The meal is seen as a way of spending time with friends and family and compared to other cultures the Italian meal takes longer.
http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/italy/index_en.htm
http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/5472/a/42485
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